Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

Florence is always a dream destination for culture vultures but if you are a particular lover of the performing arts then a great time to book a vacation rental in Florence is between late April and June, when the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival is held. In addition to the incredible and vast array of museums, galleries, churches, architectural gems, gorgeous gardens, public statuary, and more that is already available for your consideration, over the course of this period each year, the city holds a range of different performances. While it is a notable opera festival run by the Opera di Firenze, there is also a diverse season of ballet, classical concerts, and theatrical performances. Fitting one of these shows into your time staying in one of our holiday rentals in Florence is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in this incredible culture capital and to experience some amazing performances.

Founded in 1933 by Vittorio Gui and inspired by an idea of Luigi Ridolfi Vay da Verrazzano, the festival was designed with the concept of using theatrical and wonderfully striking visual productions to showcase both contemporary pieces and operas that had been forgotten. Italy’s oldest music festival and the second-oldest in Europe, after the Salzburg Festival, it was an immediate success and was made into a biennial event in 1937. Thereafter, it became an annual festival and was held across the Teatro Comunale and Piccolo Teatro and the Teatro della Pergola until 2014, when the new Teatro dell'Opera di Firenze (which had been opened in 2011), replaced the Teatro Comunale.

If you are looking forward to the blooming of spring and a great vacation in Tuscany then you should probably consider booking one of our villas with pools in Lucca for this March and heading to Capannori, a town and commune in the province of Lucca that is known as the Village of Camellias. Already an exceptionally charming town of winding lanes, pretty little squares, and gorgeous local houses, it is made lovelier still each year in March and October, when it goes into full bloom...

All through the villages of Pieve and Sant'Andrea di Compito and right across the valley in which Capannori is located, there are camellia trees that explode into thousands of blooms each spring, adding colour and wonder to this corner of the lush Tuscan landscape. The entire area is transformed into one large garden and hosts a rich and diverse calendar of special events for locals and visitors to the area to enjoy each year for the duration of the Antiche Camelie della Lucchesia exhibition. Find your vacation rental in Lucca and come join in on all of the fun and experience the incredible beauty of this special event for yourself!

Many visitors are drawn to a vacation rental in Montecatini Terme as this very pretty and historic Tuscan town is surrounded by lush green landscapes that are typical of the region and boasts natural thermal springs as well as top-notch spa facilities – making it a perfect destination for those dreaming of getting away from it all. However, if you are visiting the town in the coming months, you might also appreciate that it is hosting an incredible temporary art exhibition of the works of renowned 20th century artist and surrealist Joan Miró. Sweetening the deal for those already considering a getaway with Tuscany Villas in this extraordinary part of the world, it is a great reason to book your holiday rental in Montecatini Terme asap!

There are many destinations that have become famous as Christmas hot-spots due to their pretty markets, ice-skating rinks in gorgeous locations, impressive lights displays, festive events, and unique traditions. Tuscany is a place that might not immediately come to mind when one thinks of the Holidays but there are plenty of great reasons to visit at this time of the year; from the food and wine, to the picturesque towns made lovelier, to the Christmas markets. In particular, if you find a vacation rental in Arezzo, you will discover that this picture-perfect medieval city is transformed into the, “Arezzo City of Christmas.”

The Arezzo City of Christmas event sees the already charming historic centre get a very special Christmas makeover with light shows projected onto the ancient stone walls of the buildings framing the Piazza Grande, a traditional-style Tyrolean Christmas market with typical Alpine huts set up in the same square, a pretty Ferris Wheel towering in the Il Prato Park, Santa Claus moving into the Medici Fortress and transforming it into a Christmas village, and more. 

Cinephiles who are looking to enjoy a movie while staying in one of our vacation rentals in Florence will likely find the beautiful Giunti Odeon Libreria e Cinema to be a dream spot to spend hours reading books, enjoying a coffee, and catching a movie! Located inside a historic building and bringing together three wonderful businesses under one especially lovely roof, it creates a dream cultural hub for locals and visitors alike who are exploring the city.